Achieving great success in his business ventures, Chang Yung-fa was awarded a medal by the Queen of the Netherlands.

By Li Xinyi, compiled and reported

Chang Yung-fa, Chairman of the Evergreen Group, was awarded the “Commander in the Order of Orange-Nassau” by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands on the 21st, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the economic and trade development of the Netherlands and to the Port of Rotterdam. The award ceremony was held at the World Museum in Rotterdam, where Mr. Ahmed Aboutaleb, Mayor of Rotterdam, presented the honor on behalf of the Queen. This medal is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to Dutch society and the global economy. Over the more than one hundred years since its establishment, Chang Yung-fa is the first Chinese person to receive this prestigious award.

The Netherlands is a key hub in Western Europe, home to the Port of Rotterdam—the largest container port in Europe—and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, which ranks among the best in the world. Evergreen Marine, founded by Chang Yung-fa, broke the century-long monopoly of the Far Eastern Freight Conference in 1979 by launching the first-ever regular all-container shipping route from the Far East to Europe. Evergreen’s ships began calling at the Port of Rotterdam at that time, and have been doing so for over 30 years, highlighting the deep-rooted ties between Evergreen and the Netherlands. EVA Airways also launched a Taipei–Amsterdam cargo route in 1995 and started offering passenger services in 1997, earning support from both cargo clients and travelers.

In Taiwan, Chang Yung-fa believes maritime education is very important for a maritime nation. As such, he established a maritime museum in the building of the Chang Yung-fa Foundation to promote maritime education and preserve Taiwan’s maritime cultural heritage. He has also contributed his collection of 4,500 items to the museum for permanent display, research, and exhibition. In recent years, due to his outstanding achievements in the international shipping industry and his dedicated contributions to public welfare, Chang Yung-fa has received numerous honors both in Taiwan and abroad. Including the “Commander in the Order of Orange-Nassau,” he has been awarded a total of twelve medals and six honorary doctorates.